Virtual Reality Simulator for Training on Surgery Ergonomics Skills

Abstract

This work focuses on ergonomics skills based on Virtual Reality (VR) training simulator for spine surgery. The proposed system used the Head Mounted Display (HMD) device for monitoring and data collection. The aim of the project was to provide a training approach for residents that would enable them to acquire the proper ergonomic skills needed while performing spine surgery. A VR training simulator has been designed and implemented to measure two ergonomic skills required that need to be maintained during any surgery. The two components were neck’s angle and table’s height. The experiments showed that the users are usually focused on their work and tend to pay less attention to their body’s position and movements. This can result in a wrong ergonomics setup, which leads to musculoskeletal pain. Thus, the users (residents) need to be trained to have good ergonomics positions. The proposed system measured this using a specific metric that collected head positions, angles, elbow height, and other parameters. The designed model was a VR simulator for neurosurgical education in particular; however, it might be good for some other similar surgeries. The study concluded that incorporating simulations into residents’ training and simulated surgeries can strengthen the surgeons’ skills and outcomes. As a result, both residents and expert surgeons can benefit from the use of the developed model.